Tractor Sizing How important is rear diff lock on CUT?

[greg_g]

Personally, I wouldn't buy a tractor without a dif lock!

SR

X2. I live on 30 acres of diagonal. Started with a Yanmar 240, only cuz I got it cheap. Found out why real quick, one wheel drive sux! Sold it, bought 4wd, never looked back. I even made sure the last riding mower I bought had diff lock.

//Greg//

 

[jeepfreak1972]

Personally, I wouldn't buy a tractor without a dif lock!

SR

I 100% agree. I could have been in trouble many times without it on every one of my tractors. No diff lock no buy for me.

 

[jonnmero]

I 100% agree. I could have been in trouble many times without it on every one of my tractors. No diff lock no buy for me.

Since they are available, the three best features, 4WD, Diff lock, and split brakes are a given.
Just like HST is an unnecessary complication, as the more there is to go wrong, the more will.

 

[k0ua]

HST is an unnecessary complication, as the more there is to go wrong, the more will.

I agree totally. Since I don't have a clutch on my HST equipped tractor, and all that linkage, pressure plates and throw out bearing, so should I say that your gear tractor has too many extra parts and might be a bit too complicated? And I believe there are less parts in a HST tractor than a gear tractor transmission also. I am just trying to understand this whole parts count line of reasoning.

You know once one looks into how these systems actually work, one becomes less fearful of this 60 year old technology. Not to mention how much they help increase efficiency for repetitive movement tasks.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Let me pop some popcorn and pull up a chair.

 

[k0ua]

Let me pop some popcorn and pull up a chair.

UM, buttered popcorn! I want some too!

 

[DGinVT]

I have and use the rear wheel locker on my three diesel tractor, especiall when going up hill with a load in my woodlot.

 

[jonnmero]

I agree totally. Since I don't have a clutch on my HST equipped tractor, and all that linkage, pressure plates and throw out bearing, so should I say that your gear tractor has too many extra parts and might be a bit too complicated? And I believe there are less parts in a HST tractor than a gear tractor transmission also. I am just trying to understand this whole parts count line of reasoning.

You know once one looks into how these systems actually work, one becomes less fearful of this 60 year old technology. Not to mention how much they help increase efficiency for repetitive movement tasks.

The technology with HST is fine, but how well does it work in extreme cold? And also how is the power loss in the system?
Looked into it when buying new tractor, but the price difference was considerable, - and the determining factor.

 

[k0ua]

The technology with HST is fine, but how well does it work in extreme cold? And also how is the power loss in the system?
Looked into it when buying new tractor, but the price difference was considerable, - and the determining factor.

Well, we don't have low temps here in SW Missouri as I am sure you do in Norway, so I can't say. It works well in the cold temps we do have here. Power loss is close to 15%. Worth it for the gain in efficiency of operation (quicker time to change directions, and better precision control) Price difference is usually between $500 and $1000 US between models.

I am not trying to sell anyone a HST system over a gear/clutch system. All the short comings of each system is worthy of debate. My only point was and is that HST systems are not more complicated, and not more prone to failure.

If anything gear/clutch systems are more complicated and more prone to failure. If number of post here on TBN are any indicator, there are more post's about clutch problems than there are about HST problems. And considering that the majority of TBN users are using CUTS and SCUTS not utility tractors, and the majority of newer CUTS and especially SCUTS are HST equipped, it would stand to reason that gear/clutch systems are unreliable!

Of course this is not true, as both are very reliable. Of course new users, having no experience in using a clutch and abusing it may, and likely does contribute to early clutch failure and account for a percentage of the posts we see here. I have never had any problems with any of the clutch/transmission systems of of the tractors I have owned. Nor have I ever had any problems with the 3 HST tractors I have owned.

My only point is that HST systems have been in service for many decades, are not complicated, are easy to understand, and are certainly not unreliable.

All the rest is debatable.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

I use mine all the time. Ice, mud, and slippery logs and boulders; can't get over them otherwise, even with split braking. And you really don't want to drop your FEL load, or unhook your 3PH equipment just to unstick yourself when a diff lock will do it in a jiffy.